A former Limavady Presbyterian Minister forced out of Limavady more than 20 years ago after giving a goodwill message to his Catholic neighbours on Christmas morning, says there may a peace settlement in Northern Ireland, but it appears nothing has changed in the Roe Valley town.
Rev. David Armstrong was hounded from his church and home in 1983 by a terrifying campaign of harassment when he crossed the street to Christ The King chapel to wish Fr. Kevin Mullan and his congregation well.
Speaking to the 'Journal' from his Cork
home, he says the controversy over introducing gaelic games to Limavady Grammar School shows the town is as bigoted as ever.
He said: "It seems insular. I have been gone a good while and I would have hoped that things on the ground would be better, but it doesn't appear to have changed a great deal."
Regarding the controversy, Rev. Armstrong said he could not understand what the fuss was about.
The 59-year-old said: "If there are sufficient numbers that want to play national games that should be treated very, very seriously and enable those who want to play play. Nobody is being forced to play or watch. Why? I mean, what is the problem?"
Rev. Armstrong said he and his small Protestant flock are "embarrassingly so" treated with respect and equality in Carrigaline "in all aspects of life."
He urged the parents who objected to gaelic being played at the school to facilitate the thinking of others.
He said: "If not that, then they should change their attitude towards people who think differently. They should look through their telescope and not live in a world of their own."
Rev. Armstrong remains firm friends with Fr. Mullan and said that as he looks back on those turbulent times in Limavady, he remains proud of what he stood for. He said his family and four children - one of which often wears his Derry gaelic jersey - are also proud of him.
He added: "I see no reason why national games should not be played. It should happen."
